Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a good book, especially stories that celebrate Chicago.
We tapped into the expertise of librarian Liv Hanson, youth collection selector for Chicago Public Library’s Department of Collections, Content and Access, for her best Chicago book choices to enjoy right now.
From adventures in the Windy City to stories written by Chicago authors, these Chicago children’s books will delight young readers. You can find all of these reads at the Chicago Public Library!
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4 Chicago wintry children’s books from an expert at Chicago Public Library
1. For ages 3-5: King Alice
On a cold and snowy winter day, one family battles the winter blahs with the power of storytelling. Chicago area author-illustrator Matthew Cordell’s body of work is brimming with wintry outdoor adventures (don’t miss his Caldecott Medal-winning Wolf in Snow) but King Alice is a playful indoor adventure that might encourage you and your young reader to try writing a story of your own!
2. For ages 4-8: Best in Snow
“A freeze/a breeze” — these striking photographs of wildlife in winter include images of regional animals, including the widely familiar (squirrels) and more localized (black-crowned night herons).
This picture book in verse will make you want to pick up a pair of binoculars and begin a winter wildlife count of your own.
3. For ages 6-9: Stella Díaz to the Rescue
Chicago area fourth-grader Stella Diaz has just learned about New Year’s resolutions — and she has big plans (and a trusty schedule). This is the year Stella and her family will become U.S. citizens, and Stella’s conservation club has a plan to reduce plastic use at their school. With good luck and hard work, will Stella’s dreams come true?
The fourth book in Angela Dominguez’s Stella Diaz series, Stella Diaz to the Rescue, can be read as a standalone, or try them all.
4. For ages 10-14: Scritch Scratch
Creepy things are bound to happen when your dad is a professional ghost tour leader. Chicago seventh-grader Claire Koster is sure that the ghost of a boy has followed her home from her father’s ghost bus tour — she’s just not sure what he wants!
Although it’s a bit of a seasonal stretch with its autumn setting, this chilling ghost story packed with Chicago history is just right for cozying up on a cold day. Author Lindsay Currie specializes in writing haunting stories that include true Chicago and Chicago area history, so there’s more to explore.
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Book recommendations from the Chicago Public Library. Learn more and plan your own library visit at chipublib.org.
